Frequently Asked Questions
I just found out about your research and am very interested in participating. What do I need to do?
You can sign up by submitting our online form or by contacting the laboratory directly. Once you answer a few general questions for us, we will enter your information into our confidential database. Because we study the effects of aging on memory, this enables us to focus on different age groups at different times. When we are testing people in your particular age bracket, we will contact you to schedule an appointment.
I signed up to participate in an experiment a couple of months ago, but I still have not been called to schedule an appointment. Do you still have my information?
Sometimes it might be a while before we are able to schedule you for an appointment. This can be due to several reasons: (1) We are currently focusing on another age group, or (2) You have had more education than our younger participants, which can make it difficult in comparing age groups.
Will I be able to see my results?
At this time, we are not sharing individual results with our participants. This is primarily because our studies are designed to evaluate group differences rather than individual ones. In order to give you results that might offer some indication of your particular memory ability, it would be necessary to give the same test to thousands of people to see where you rank in comparison. However, we do sometimes use diagnostics tests in our research and would gladly provide you with the results from those.
If I come in for an appointment, will you tell me how I can improve my memory?
Actually, participating in one of our studies can be a good mental exercise for you. In addition, you can try doing crosswords and other puzzles to keep your mind stimulated. Please see our past newsletters for other ways to improve your memory.
How long is the experiment going on, and how many participants do you need?
We typically have more than one experiment going on at a time, and we are constantly seeking more participants. Our research will probably be continuing several years from now so it is never too late to sign up! If you know someone that would be interested in participating or have suggestions for how we can recruit more people, please do not hesitate to contact us.
I would like to participate, but I have a very busy schedule. How difficult is it to schedule an appointment?
This varies across our different studies. For most studies, you would only need to come to the lab for one session, lasting about 1-2 hours (though there are some studies that require more than one session). We will inform you of the specific time requirements when we call to schedule an appointment. Since participants are tested individually, we are very flexible and can set up an appointment around your schedule.
Can my husband/wife and I participate together?
You are welcome to come to the laboratory together, though it is unlikely that you will be participating in the same study. Also, if you and your husband/wife are in different age brackets or have different education levels, we may request that you come in separately.
I would like to participate, but I do not need the money. Can I leave it with you and have you donate it for me?
Absolutely. We currently have written contracts set up with several organizations. If you would like to participate on behalf of an organization, just let us know at the end of the study which organization you wish to help. On the other hand, if you would like to help an unknown organization raise its funds, you can contact us, and we will create a new contract designed especially for it. That way, members can be encouraged to sign up, and their reimbursement money will be mailed in the form of a check to the organization's address.
How much does your research help with the understanding of Alzheimer's Disease?
We focus more on studying normal aging in healthy older adults. Although our current line of research may lead to further understanding of Alzheimer's disease, you may want to contact the Alzheimer's Association in order to find out more about current research.